Roses to Tom Fillippo for his community service

Friday, April 12, 2013

Roses to Tom Fillippo, president and CEO of Devault Foods, who was recognized by the Chester County Economic Development Council for his work in the community over the past several decades. Fillippo is a former member of the development councilís board, and is serving or has served on a variety of other economic development agencies in the county. He is currently on the board of Paoli Hospital and chairman of the West Chester University Board of Trustees. His business was founded by the Filippo family in 1949 and provides portion-controlled meat products to the food service industry. He is a 1969 graduate of West Chester University.

Roses to the firefighters from throughout the region who a year ago battled a forest fire in French Creek State Park gamelands that became the longest fire operation in Pennsylvania history. The two weeks of firefighting was in hilly, wooded terrain where communication was often broken, leaving firefighters isolated at times without food or needed relief. As the flames spread close to area homes, crews of firefighters worked tirelessly to build and maintain a fire break. Looking back a year later, their heroic efforts are seen clearly as the reason no homes were burned.

Roses to local candidates who have filed to run for office, stepping up to participate in their communities despite the expense and inconvenience often involved in the political process. Candidates have filed nominating petitions to be on the ballot for school board positions and local municipal boards and borough government seats. Some of these positions are unpaid, and those that are paid are nominal fees. The reward is in having a seat at the table to make decisions that affect local schools, taxes and the quality of life in our towns. Working to get elected to accomplish change gets better results than complaining about whatís wrong.

Thorns to professional politicians at the state and national level and the never-ending cycle of politics. We just finished the exhausting 2012 presidential campaign and we have a primary election coming up on May 21 in Pennsylvania that is barely on anyoneís radar. But professional politicians are already jockeying for the 2014 Pennsylvania governorís race and the mid-term Congressional elections. Five Democrats have already announced they will seek their party nomination in May 2014 to challenge Gov. Tom Corbett (assuming Corbett is able to fend off a potential challenge from fellow Republican Bruce Castor Jr.) No wonder voter turnout is so poor in most elections. Americans are sick of the professional political class. Can we get through one election cycle before having to worry about the one a year from now?